BBC World Service South Asia

The Real Story

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Politics

Global experts and decision makers discuss, debate and analyse a key news story.

The Real Story: Mercenaries: Guns for Hire

Factual

Mercenaries: Guns for Hire

07/10/2016 GMT

BBC World Service - The Real Story, Mercenaries: Guns for Hire

The role played by privatised military forces in modern conflict

The use of mercenaries in warfare has a very long history, and still very much in evidence today.  African governments seeking to push back rebel insurgents often employ mercenaries to carry out the task. From Yemen to Syria, mercenaries are directly involved in combat roles.  And defence and training work once carried out by national armies is now often done by private military contractors. In this week’s Newshour Extra, Owen Bennett Jones and his guests consider the role played by these privatised forces fighting someone else’s war.

Photo: soldier firing automatic weapon Credit: Getty Images

BBC World Service

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Real Story

Mercenaries: Guns for Hire

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service South Asia

About BBC World Service